Shirley Temple’s Rare Blue Diamond Ring to Be Auctioned

Reuters and

March 17, 2016, 9:10 PM ET

<h1>Childhood: Shirley Temple</h1> Before the age of 10, Shirley Temple enjoyed four years as the top box-office draw in America, earning an unprecedented $50,000 per film from 20th Century Fox in the late 1930s. She gave definition to the term child star, which was the title of her autobiography. But early success often comes with the cost of devoting your childhood to hard work rather than play. Temple acted in four films a year at an age when ordinary children swing in the playground and master cursive writing. "The early young chargers are willing to sacrifice freedom and choice at a young age," says Bruce Tulgan, New Haven-based consultant and author of <em>It's Okay to Be the Boss</em>. "They put in a huge amount of time and energy in a focused pursuit at a very young age." Although Temple retired from movie-making at age 22, that early sacrifice gave her the platform and name recognition to become active in politics, serve on corporate boards, and fill the role of U.S. ambassador to Czechoslovakia during the administration of President George H.W. Bush.Photo: Popperfoto/Getty Images

A rare blue diamond ring belonging to the late Shirley Temple, one of Hollywood’s most famous child actors, is going up for auction starting at $25 million, auctioneer Sotheby’s said Thursday.

The 9.54-carat Fancy Deep Blue diamond ring was purchased by Temple’s father for $7,210 in 1940 around the time of the actress’ 12th birthday, Sotheby’s said.

The ring will be auctioned on April 19 as part of Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels sale, and is estimated to be valued between $25 million and $35 million.

Temple won legions of fans as a bouncy, curly-haired young star in 1930s movies such as “Bright Eyes,” “Heidi” and “Curly Top.” The child actress went on to forge a second career as ambassador Shirley Temple Black and died at the age of 85 in 2014.

Her family previously auctioned off a selection of Temple’s costumes, scripts and a dress she wore at the 1935 Oscars.

About the Authors

By Reuters

See full bio

By Aaron Task

See full bio

Latest in Luxury

Finance